Necktie clasp



o. v. ANDERSON 3,049,772

NECKTIE CLASP Filed Dec. 16, 1959 Aug. 21, 1962 FIG.

FIG. 2

FIG. 6

405 IN VEN TOR.

OLOF u AwERso/v m jdud J M ATTORNEY United States Patent Qffice 3,049,772 Patented Aug. 21, 1962 3,049,772 NECKTIE CLASP Olof V. Anderson, North Kingston, R.I., assignor to Anson, Inc., Providence, R.I., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Dec. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 860,005 4 Claims. (Cl. 24-49) The invention relates in general to clasps and more particularly to a clasp especially designed for use in holding the ends of a necktie in proper relation to the front of a shirt.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a clasp embodying novel and improved features of construction whereby the clasp shall be capable of gripping a necktie and a portion of a shirt to prevent displacement of a necktie relative to the shirt and ensure against slipping or loss of the clasp.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a clasp comprising a body having two spaced and substantially parallel jaws, and novel and improved means for mounting a spring clamping strip on one of said jaws in opposed clamping relation to the other, whereby the clasp shall be simple and inexpensive in construction and appealing to the eye.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a clasp embodying novel and improved holding means for connecting one end of the spring clamping strip to one of said jaws and for guiding the other end of said spring clamping strip in its sliding, flexing movements, whereby said body may be formed of non-resilient material and said spring clamping strip may be formed of highly resilient material.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in part and be pointed out in part in the following specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the new and improved necktie clasp.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of FIGURE 1.

'FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the component parts which comprise the present structure.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the upper and lower jaws assembled with the upper jaw broken away for clarity.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 with the spring clamping strip in operative position.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, illustrating a modified form of ear location.

In proceeding with this invention, there is provided a front jaw, generally indicated by reference character 11, having an ornamental or aesthetic surface 12, and a bight portion 13 generally U-shaped. Bight portion 13 is provided with a T-shaped free end having two oppositely located projections 14, 15 and a square shaped slot 16. The T-shaped free end is spaced from and parallel to said front jaw 11. The T-shaped free end underlies the front jaw 11, a distance less than the total length of said front jaw.

A back jaw, generally indicated by reference character 20, is provided in the form of a shallow dish. The dish consists of a bottom 21 having upstanding parallel side walls 22, 23 provided with a tongue 24 on one end. Side walls 22, 23 bulge out, as at 2'5 and 26 to provide seats, for purposes which will presently appear. Side walls 22, 23 are also provided with upstanding projections or cars 27, 28 respectively. Side walls 22, 23 terminate in parallel relation on the end opposite tongue 24 to provide an open end, generally indicated by reference character 2?, in the shallow dish.

A spring dlamping strip, generally indicated by reference character 30, is provided with a fiat seat 31 which arches to terminate in a. projection 32. Spring clamping strip 30 may be termed an arcuate shaped leaf spring.

In assembling the clasp, the bight portion 13 is placed in the opening 29 of the shallow dish with projections 14, 15 seated in seats 25, 26 respectively.

Upstanding projections or ears 27, 28 are then folded over to engage bight portion 13 and rigidly secure it in place thereby uniting the front jaw 11 with the back jaw 12 and providing a track 40 consisting of the ends of ears 27, 28 and square slot 16 (see FIG. 4).

The spring clamping ship 30 is placed in position with flat seat 31 located under tongue 24 and with projection 32 located in track 40' so as to be guided in a sliding movement by the ends of ears 27, 28. Tongue 24 is then bent into a position to grip and secure flat seat 31 between upstanding parallel side walls 22, 23, thereby preventing spring clamping strip 30* from being displaced from the shallow dish. Flat seat 31 may be provided with an orifice 42. When tongue 24 is bent into position to engage flat seat 31, a rivet type depression 43 may be formed which provides a tit on the underside. Said tit may engage orifice 42. It is obvious that tongue 24 may engage flat seat 31 by means of friction alone inasmuch as the inside surfaces of upstanding parallel side walls 22, 23 will engage the sides of flat seat 31 to prevent lateral displacement of the arcuate shaped leaf spring 30.

With reference to FIGURE 2, it will be observed that the material constituting a necktie and shirt front, illustrated in dot and dash lines, reference character A, when slid into position between the back surface of front jaw 11 and spring clamping strip 30*, will cause the projection 32 to move toward the bight portion 13. This movement is a sliding motion created by flattening the arch of spring clamping strip 30. Projection 32 is guided in track 40.

It will be further observed with particular reference to FIGURE 6 that ears 27, 28 may terminate at 40A and 49B, respectively, so that the sides of square slot 16 will guide projection 32 in its sliding movement in place of the ends of ears 27, 28, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. As illustrated in FIGURE 4 square slot 16 underlying ears 27, 28, serves the function of clearance for the end of projection 32. While this is the desired form, it is obvious that square slot 16 can be dispensed with. In which case the end of projection 32 may engage the surface of bight portion 13.

Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, by way of example, it should be realized that structural changes could be made and other examples given without departing from either the spirit or scope of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. A clasp comprising a front jaw provided with an ornamental surface and having an integrally formed U- shaped bight portion terminating in a T-shaped free end, said T having two oppositely located projections, there being a slot in said bight portion, said T-shaped free end being spaced from and parallel to said ornamental surface, a back jaw consisting of a bottom having upstanding parallel side walls provided with a tongue on one end, two oppositely located bulge out portions, one in each side wall, and two oppositely located ears, one in each side wall, said side walls terminating in parallel relation to provide an open end, said T-shaped free end located in said open end and engaging said bottom with said two oppositely located projections seated in said two oppositely located bulge out portions, respectively, said two oppositely located ears bent to engage and secure said T-shaped free end with said back jaw, the ends of said ears overlying said slot to form a track, and a spring clamping strip having an arched portion terminating in a flat seat on one end and a projection on the other end, said flat seat underlying said tongue, said tongue securing said flat seat in position between said upstanding parallel side walls, said arched portion engaging the surface of said front jaw back of said ornamental surface, and said projection slidingly engaging said track.

2. A clasp comprising a front jaw having an integrally formed U-shaped bight portion terminating in a T-shaped free end, said T having two oppositely located projections, said T-shaped free end underlying said front jaw a distance short of the total length of said front jaw, there being a slot in said bight portion, a back jaw consisting of a bottom having two upstanding parallel side walls provided with two oppositely located bulge out portions and two oppositely located ears, said two oppositely located projections resting in said two oppositely located bulge out portions, said two oppositely located ears securing said back jaw to said bight portion to form an extension to said T-shaped free end a distance substantially equal to the total length of said front jaw, an arcuate shaped leaf spring provided with a flat seat on one end and a projection on the opposite end, and means to secure said fiat seat to said bottom with said projection slidingly engaging said slot, whereby material interposed between said front jaw and said arcuate shaped leaf spring causes said projection to slide in said slot with said two upstanding parallel side Walls engaging the sides of said flat seat to prevent lateral displacement of said fiat seat and of said arcuate shaped leaf spring during the sliding movement of said projection.

3. A clasp comprising a front jaw having an integrally formed U-shaped bight portion terminating in a T-shaped free end, said T having two oppositely located projections, said T-shaped free end underlying said front jaw a distance short of the total length of said front jaw, a back jaw consisting of a bottom having two upstanding parallel side walls provided with two oppositely located bulge out portions and two oppositely located ears, said two oppositely located projections resting in said two oppositely located bulge out portions, respectively, said two oppositely located ears being bent toward each other to form a track and to secure said back jaw to said bight portion to form an extension to said T-shaped free end a distance substantially equal to the total length of said front jaw, an arcuate shaped leaf spring provided with a flat seat on one end and a projection on the opposite end, and means to secure said flat seat to said bottom with said projection slidingly engaging said track, and said two upstanding parallel side walls engaging the sides of said flat seat to prevent lateral displacement of said arcuate shaped leaf spring.

4. A clasp comprising a front jaw having an integrally formed U-shaped bight portion terminating in a free end, said free end underlying said front jaw a distance short of the total length of said front jaw, there being a slot in said bight portion, a back jaw, means securing said back jaw to said bight portion to form an extension of said free end for a distance substantially the total length of said front jaw, an arcuate shaped leaf spring provided with a projection on one end, and a fiat seat on the opposite end, and means to secure said fiat seat to said back jaw, said projection slidingly engaging said slot whereby material interposed between said front jaw and arcuate shaped leaf spring causes said projection to slide in said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 491,852 McDowell Feb. 14, 1893 1,874,853 Baer Aug. 30, 1932 2,141,222 Pioch Dec. 27, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 175,211 France of 1886 654,329 France Nov. 28, 1928 180,062 Great Britain May 19, 1922 

